Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Lesson Overview
In Genesis 1:1–31, God speaks and makes the heavens, the earth and every living thing. Everything He makes is very good.
Passage
Genesis 1:1–31
Central truth
God made everything, and everything He made was very good.
The children’s response
Point to something in a picture and say or indicate that God made it; begin to thank Him for His world and for people.
Focus to remember
God made everything.
This 45-minute session is for ages 2 through Grade R. Read Overview and preparation before you lead; Downloads provides the pictures and resources used below.
Before the children arrive
- For the group: a Bible, one set of the 3 whole teaching pictures (Printable Resources, pages 1–3), and familiar large play materials.
- For your chosen activity: prepare the quantities given below. Keep one colouring page (page 4) and one large crayon per child as a backup, with extra colours to share.
- For finishing: a tray for work and adult cleaning cloths. Offer one whole take-home page (page 6) per household if wanted, or its separate PDF.
Place the pictures where everyone can see them. Keep a comfortable quiet space within the supervised group. Choose an activity you can support with the adults present, without compulsory waiting turns.
How the lesson unfolds
45-minute session
- 10 min
- Welcome and play
- 10 min
- Hear the Bible accountincluding gathering and responses
- 20 min
- Activity and conversationincluding familiar play and cleanup
- 5 min
- Remember and praythen supervised collection
Use these times as a gentle guide. Leave room for settling, looking, questions and practical care.
Welcome and play
Welcome each child by name and help them find something familiar to play with. Have picture 1, the world God made, beside the play space. When a child shows interest, sit alongside and say, “I can see a tree here. What can you see?” Give them time to point or answer, then add, “Today we'll hear from the Bible about the God who made the world.” A child who is still settling can simply watch or continue playing.
Let the children know when you are about to gather: “One more turn, then we'll put the toys away and look at the Bible.” Help them tidy up and find a place where they can see. A child who needs more time can stay beside an adult as the group gathers.
Tell the Bible account
Open your Bible at Genesis 1 and say, “The Bible tells us about the God who made the world. Let's listen together.”
Keep your Bible open at Genesis 1. Read the first verse, then use the suggested words below to tell the rest of the account. Show one picture at a time and keep it visible while you speak. Allow a pause when you invite a response; if a child needs help, point or give the answer gently and continue.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Created means made. God made the heavens and the earth.
Picture 1 · The world God made
Before there were trees or birds or people, God was there. He made the world. God spoke, and what He said happened.
God made light and the sky. He gathered the waters so that dry land appeared, and He made plants grow on the land. There were trees and plants with seeds and fruit.
Ask “Can you find a tree in our picture?”
Look for A point or a word. Show the tree yourself if needed.
Invite the children to stretch gently like a growing tree, sitting or standing. They can also watch you do the action.
God made the sun, the moon and the stars too. Here is the sun in our picture. These are all things God made. God made everything.
Picture 2 · Living creatures
Then God made living creatures: creatures in the water, birds in the sky and animals on the land. Let's look at this picture together. Here are a bird, a goat and a mouse.
Ask “Which one can fly?”
Look and listen for A point or the word “bird”.
If needed Point to it and say, “This is the bird. It has wings.”
Invite gentle wing movements, with everyone staying in their place.
God made the bird with its wings, and He made this little mouse too. He made all the living creatures. God made everything.
Picture 3 · People matter to God
God made people too. He made the first man and woman in His image. He made people to know Him and care for His world. People matter to God.
This picture shows a child today. You and I are people too, and we matter to God. When God looked at everything He had made, it was very good. We can thank Him for His world and for people.
The Bible also tells us that everything was made through Jesus, God's Son. Jesus was there before the world began.
Give the children a moment to look, then ask, “Who made the world?” Welcome their answer or supply “God” yourself. Invite, “You can say it with me: God made everything.” Point back to the open Bible and add, “That is what we've heard in God's Word.”
Choose an activity and remember
Choose one option for your group; the children do not need to complete all three. Join their making or play and keep the teaching pictures nearby. Children may return to familiar play when they finish, with colouring available as a backup.
Notice and help: A child may point to a tree, name an animal or begin a thank-you. Ask, “Who made the real tree?” Help with “God made it.” If a child shows you a toy, explain that people made the toy using things God made. Use children’s responses to guide your help without requiring everyone to answer.
Option 1 · Colour things God made
Prepare: One colouring page (Printable Resources, page 4) and one large crayon per child, with extra colours to share. Keep the matching whole teaching picture visible.
Choose colours and make marks
Let children colour a small part or the whole picture in their own way. They may point or choose a colour while you steady the sheet.
Remember together
Find a tree, water or the sun together. Say, “God made the real world. We can thank Him.”
With help: Offer two colours, hold the page or look at the picture together. Finishing is optional. For more: Ask, “How is our paper picture different from the world God made?” Help the child distinguish making with existing materials from God giving the world its existence.
Give a short warning, help return crayons and put the pages in the work tray.
Option 2 · Textures in God's world
Prepare: For each child: one creation page or plain A4 sheet, two half-sheets of thin paper and one broad crayon. For each table: two large clean, flexible leaves from a plant an adult knows is safe, or two pieces of textured card; one glue stick and a tray. Remove sharp stems and damaged pieces. Keep natural materials with an adult; a child may use card or simply draw.
Find a texture
An adult holds a leaf or textured card flat beneath a half-sheet. Show how to rub with the side of a crayon. Invite the child to choose a colour and try a broad rubbing while you steady the paper.
Arrange a picture
Let children lift the sheet, notice the marks and choose where to place one or both whole rubbings on their creation page. Help attach them if wanted. They can add their own marks for trees, land or water.
Remember the Maker
Ask, “What do you notice about the leaf?” Follow a point or word, then say, “God made the real leaf. Our rubbing helps us notice it.” Thank Him for something the child chooses.
With help: Offer one colour and hold the leaf beneath the paper, or let the child choose where a finished rubbing goes. Touching the leaf and using glue are optional. For more: A child may compare two textures, make another rubbing or explain why we thank God for the real plant.
Collect the leaves and card yourself. Children return crayons and spare paper; put damp or gluey work aside and help clean hands.
Option 3 · Look at what God made
Prepare: For each adult-supported group: one large clean leaf from a known safe plant, one smooth stone too large to fit in a child’s mouth, two sturdy large animal toys and one tray. Check for sharp edges, loose parts and sensitivities. Use the whole teaching pictures instead wherever handling is unsuitable.
Choose something to notice
Place the objects in the tray. Let a child choose, point or look while you name it. Children may inspect beside you; no one needs to touch every object.
Compare and connect
Notice a smooth stone and a patterned leaf, or two different toy animals. Ask what the child sees or feels. Say, “God made real leaves, stones and animals. People made this toy to look like an animal.”
Choose a thank-you
Let the children return to something that interests them. Invite, “What could we thank God for?” Supply a short thank-you from their choice and return to the creation picture.
With help: Offer just two objects or point to one in a picture. A child can watch you hold it. For more: Invite a child to sort the real natural objects and the toys, explaining that people make toys from things God made.
Help children return toys to the tray; an adult collects the stone and leaf and helps everyone clean their hands.
A quiet or no-print option
Look through a window from inside the room, or sit together with a creation picture. Name one tree, cloud or person and thank God. Without a printer, use plain paper for rubbings or drawing; without materials, looking and talking beside an adult is enough.
Keep the last few minutes of the activity period for tidying and helping children clean their hands. Watching, pointing, choosing and speaking in a familiar language are welcome ways to participate.
Remember and pray
Read the short Bible verse from Genesis 1:1 once more. The focus words below summarise the lesson; they are not a Bible quotation.
Bring the three pictures together again and invite a willing child to point to something they remember. Ask, “Who made the world?” Pause for an answer, then ask, “Did God make people too?” Help with the answers as needed and invite the group to say, “God made everything.” Let this be a shared remembering; no child needs to answer alone.
Say, “We've heard about the world God made. I'm going to thank Him. You may listen or join me.” Children may listen without speaking or adopting a particular posture.
A simple prayer
God, You made the world. Thank You for trees, animals and people. Help us to know You and care for Your world. Amen.
If there is time, repeat the gathering words and actions. Keep a quiet picture or familiar toy available while children wait to be collected. Offer their work and the “Remember together” take-home page if they would like to take them. It is also available as a separate PDF in Printable Resources for sharing with parents. You might say to the collecting adult, “We heard from Genesis 1 that God made everything. This page has our picture and a Bible verse you can enjoy together.” Continue supervising and follow your church's collection arrangements until each child is safely collected.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.